How to End Coverage in Medicare Advantage Plans

For some people, Medicare Advantage is great. You can get a lot of benefits that Original Medicare doesn't cover. For others, Medicare Advantage is just a headache---more paper work, long appeals processes, and extra costs and restrictions. If you find yourself in this situation, you may want to get out of your Medicare Advantage plan. Luckily, there are options.

Instructions

• 1

  Assess whether or not you are in an enrollment period. Enrollment periods happen a few times a year and mark the time when you are allowed to make changes in your health care coverage. You can only end coverage if you are in one of these periods.

  These two periods are general or open enrollment period and the annual coordinated election period. The general enrollment period lasts from January 1 through March 31, and you can make one change during this time. You can either drop your coverage altogether, or you can switch back into original Medicare.

  Make note of the fact that you can only switch once during this enrollment period. After you make a change, you are locked into this change until the next enrollment period. Your new coverage will begin the first day of the month following the switch.

  The second enrollment period, the annual coordinated election period, lasts from November 15 to December 31. You can make as many changes as you want during this time, and your new coverage begins on January 1.

• 2

  See if you qualify for a special enrollment period. Getting a special enrollment period is one way you can drop your plan if you are not in one of the previously mentioned enrollment periods. There are special qualifications for that though. These include moving out of the network or if it's been less than 12 months since you first became eligible for Medicare. There are many reasons, though, so call the Social Security Administration to see if your case qualifies for a special enrollment period.

  Some folks qualify for one special enrollment period a month because they are enrolled in particular federal- and state-based programs that help those with lower incomes afford Medicare costs. These programs include state pharmaceutical assistance programs, Medicaid, Medicare savings programs, supplemental security Income and extra help. In order to be eligible, you must meet certain income and asset requirements. Call your state health insurance program for more information. After you apply and are approved, you can make one switch a month to your health care, including dropping your Medicare Advantage plan.

• 3

  Drop the plan. Once you are in an enrollment period or have qualified for a special enrollment period, go ahead and call 800-MEDICARE and request to drop the plan. If you'd like to switch into original Medicare, be sure you explain this to the operator during this conversation.